It’s November which means I shift into holiday and gift giving season! Gift giving is my jam. Of course I love giving them, but more than that I love really using each gift as an opportunity to leave someone feeling special and loved. I love choosing the perfect gift, finding things I love that I know they would love too, and packaging them up cute so that even the smallest gift is special.

People often tell me I have a knack for gift giving. Which I think is because I view every gift as a chance to leave someone feeling better than they did before. Maybe even more important in a year as crazy as 2020! And I also love sharing my favorite finds. So it seemed like the logical next step was to put my favorites together in a Holiday Gift Guide to share!

I’m super excited to share my first ever Holiday Gift Guide with you guys!!!

This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. Good news, there’s no additional cost to you! Thank you for being here!

GIFT GIVING TIPS

It doesn’t have to be hard or overwhelming to give a heartfelt gift that leaves an impact. Here are a couple of tips for giving great gifts:

1. Start with your favorite things. What are you loving right now and who do you know that would love it too? I enjoy giving things I’m loving because I already know other people in my life will love it too!
2. Pick a theme. Nothing is cuter or shows more thought than a gift that is all tied together with a theme. A spa theme, a basket filled with cute outdoor necessities (hat, scarf, gloves), wine with a cute stopper tied around the neck, a mixing bowl with spatulas (like THESE super adorbs spatulas from Hearth & Hand for Target!!), a coffee mug filled with a coffee shop gift card and a stirring spoon (like THIS “But First” spoon). You get the idea!
3. Use containers as part of the gift. I love using cute coffee mugs, mixing bowls, baskets, planters to hold gifts instead of a gift bag. Hobby Lobby always has a ton of baskets and bins that are adorable. Instead of tissue paper, line them with coordinating things, like THESE turkish hand towels that are great in any kitchen and super cute lining a basket, bowl or metal beverage tub!
4. Don’t wait until Christmas! I try to keep the people on my gift list on my mind year round when I’m shopping. When you see something throughout the year that reminds you of someone, grab it! That way you’ll already have a start on the perfect gift when the holiday season rolls around.

Here are a couple of themes I did recently…a small coffee gift card (find the premade coffee card holders HERE in the NMTMdesigns Etsy shop) and a larger Moscow Mule gift basket.

When you are thoughtful about the theme and presentation, even the smallest gift sends the sweetest message of appreciation and love. Now, on to my faves!!

TOP TEN HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

J Crew Lodge Moccasin Slippers

Trust me on these. I’ve worked from home for 13 years, so I’ve tried some slippers, including pricy UGGs and the cheaper Old Navy version of these. But these are the best! They are super cute and comfy. The bottoms are solid enough to wear in car line and to get the mail, but not so sturdy that they aren’t comfortable. Every couple of years, I get myself a new pair and I love gifting them. They also have solid colors, a gold and leopard print this year. (Order a half size higher than normal.)

Find them HERE

* Pair with a soft, cozy cardigan like THIS ONE from Target! I have it in cream and gray and it’s perfect to dress up or wear with jammie pants!

YETI Coffee Mug

Coffee is life. Period. Right?! I love coffee mugs, but this Yeti mug has seriously elevated my morning coffee. In fact, I have a cabinet full of coffee mugs I love, and I rarely use them now because this is legitimately the BEST coffee mug! It keeps my coffee hot for a long time, which is perfect for busy mom life! No more cold, forgotten coffee. It comes in lots of colors. I love it so much that last year my hubby, my sister, my dad and my colleagues all got them for Christmas!

* Pair it with a coffee gift card or hot cocoa supplies.

Find it HERE

Jade or Rose Quartz Face Roller

I’ve had a rose quartz skin roller for a while and it’s a fun little skin care splurge that actually doesn’t cost splurgy! You can use them to massage skin and here are some possible benefits:

✔️ Improve blood circulation to skin
✔️ Reduce puffiness
✔️ Apply skincare products (like moisturizer, essential oils or glow skin serum!)
✔️ Help sinuses with stuffiness
✔️ Help flush toxins from the body
✔️ Improve mood (weird, but YAY!)

They’re small, so they make a good stocking stuff too!

* Pair with a gift card for a massage or facial.

Find a Jade roller HERE or a Rose Quartz roller HERE

A Great Throw Blanket

My favorite way to spend a weekend afternoon is snuggled up in a cozy throw blanket with hot coffee, the fire going and a book or Netflix. It’s a gift everyone can enjoy and find a place for. I have them thrown over every couch, chair, and bed so there’s always something to snuggle with. I searched for the perfect knit blanket that was soft (without leaving fluffies everywhere, especially up my nose!) and lightweight enough to use year round. I’m obsessed with this one from West Elm! My family knows it’s mom’s blanket, lol! It’s the perfect throw blanket size (I have the 50×60 size)…small enough to easily fold over the chair or in a basket, but large enough to cover and warm you up. Although if you’re looking for a larger blanket (or a lower price point), I just got THIS cream faux fur blanket at Target and it’s SOOO soft!

* Pair with THIS pair of pj pants that everyone loves! I have these in 3 colors and have gifted them to several friends. They are soft and hold up well!

Find this West Elm knit throw blanket HERE {Starting November 8th, these are marked down for a limited time…no promo code needed!}

Echo Dot

Do you use Alexa already? Whether have a one already or you’re new, everyone can use another Echo Dot! We have them in so many rooms now. And don’t tell them, but my kids are getting them for their rooms for Christmas! They will be sooo excited! This year, Amazon came out with some new colors and some just for kids. Depending on your stocking, you might be able to fit them as stocking stuffers. Here are some of the ways we use them…

✔️ Play music from Amazon, Pandora, iTunes, etc.
✔️ Keep track of shopping lists and other customized lists (for example, I have a Trader Joe’s list and a Young Living list on mine) so I can just shout out things to Alexa to add to the list. Makes shopping time easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!
✔️ House-wide announcements. I just learned this and LOVE it! Whether I’m in the kitchen and dinner is ready or I’m out running an errand and need their attention at home, I can record and play announcements over the Dots
✔️ Reminders and timers
✔️ Amazon reorders
✔️ Jokes, games, calling
✔️ Farting. Not even lying. My family loves to ask her to do this. Can’t win them all, right?!

Find it HERE

Essential Oils Starter Set

These are my favorite oils and diffuser. We use them every day for all kinds of things. These are not grocery store oils that are just for fragrance, my friends. These are the real deal, pure, no toxins or synthetics, unadulterated plant-juice. The starter box is a crazy deal (savings of over 50%!) and includes the basics to start using them. We love them and use them to support our wellness + immune system, scent the house naturally, replace toxins, and lots more. And the diffuser is perfect for all the cozy vibes (it has a candlelight flicker setting!). I love to fill mine with my favorite fall and winter oils this time of year which makes the house smell AH-MAZING and helps me feel more calm in the hustle and bustle.

Find it HERE

Cute Planters + Baskets

I’m currently obsessed with live plants. Aren’t they cute?! I had to find the perfect planters and baskets for each of them. A good basket is so versatile. Fill it with a plant or use it as cute storage for throw blankets. Plants are a great addition to decorating a space and they just make people happy.

* Pair with a house plant or a gift card from The Sill, a small business that delivers plants and even has subscriptions.

These are my favorites…

Anything From Stonewall Kitchen

Stonewall Kitchen has been one of my favorites to gift for years. It’s kind of like gourmet food, but things actual people eat. Grab a cute mixing bowl and whisk and fill it with premade goodies and mixes. Or hit the easy button and just order one of their gift sets! These make perfect hostess gifts for the holiday season or for that neighbor you aren’t sure what to get.

Shop HERE

Sand Cloud Towels

Another one of my long time favorites that I’ve gifted several times! Sand Cloud makes the best turkish towels. Absorbent but light. I have several! We use them out at the pool. I wrap one around my waist as a cover up. The XL size is perfect to throw over a double chaise lounge. I also have a thicker Sand Cloud towel slung over my office chair as a lightweight throw blanket.

I love supporting companies with heart and purpose. 10% of their profits go toward marine life preservation. Love.

* Pair with a couple of acrylic cocktail glasses (we use THESE) or margarita glasses (like THESE stemless cuties)

Find Sand Cloud towels HERE. And right now you can get 25% off using code GIFT25!

Whiskey Advent Calendar

In addition to coffee, I love whiskey. I ran across the Whiskey calendars from Flaviar last year and got one for myself for Christmas (um…I mean, my hubby gave it to me!). It was so cute and fun! Each day has a little glass vial of a different whiskey to try, plus it comes with a tasting glass and a booklet that tells a little about each day’s whiskey. They also have other gift sets on their website. This is one of my favorites because it can be a great option for the hard-to-buy-for guys (or gals, like me!) on your list.

* Pair with THESE gold whiskey stones

Find it HERE

Nespresso Coffee Machine

Okay, this is technically number 11. But I can’t skip it. And since it’s not a “budget item”, think of it as a bonus idea. We’ve already established that coffee makes my life work! I thought about this coffee maker (it’s actually more of an espresso machine) for a long, long time and I wish I’d gotten it sooner! It’s my favorite quarantine purchase and my most used kitchen appliance (does it count as an appliance???). It’s taken my coffee game to the next level for sure. Obviously this isn’t going to be for everyone on your list, but if you are shopping for a family member, partner, or spouse who loves coffee, THIS is it! It’s an investment, but they have lots of price points depending on your budget and it makes all kinds of fancy coffee drinks.

Find the top of the line Nespresso Creatista HERE, the Nespresso Vertuo HERE , or you can browse Nespresso machine options HERE.

STOCKING STUFFERS

I love stockings. They are one of my favorite parts of gifting. I love trying to find all the fun little small things that will be a mish-mash of surprises on Christmas morning. A few years ago, my hubby and I started a new tradition of filling each others stockings which has made it even more special.

Pop Sockets

These are fun for anyone with a phone! They’re super easy to swap out, so you can’t have too many. (Right?!) I run a lot of my business from my phone, and Pop Sockets are my favorite for propping it up to watch something and holding it for photos and videos.

They come in all kinds of designs and I don’t know about you, but I’m always up for a new, pretty one! Glitter, rainbow, gemstones, characters, food, sports, you name it. And for the car, THIS little mount holds pop sockets and also fits perfectly in a stocking!

Find them HERE

Lip Gloss

Not just lip gloss, it needs to be a great one that anyone would love. This is my favorite toxin-free lip gloss from Savvy Minerals by Young Living. It comes in several colors, but Abundant is my go-to and it seems to work for most people. And bonus, I love that the ingredients are clean so my daughter can use it without me worrying about junk that will mess with her hormones or irritate her skin!

Find it HERE

Bombas Socks

If you haven’t tried Bombas yet, you’re missing out! These have become our favorite socks. All four of us have them and they’re the first socks we grab. I know, socks doesn’t seem like a great gift. LOL! But these really are great socks and they come in lots of colors and cute designs. (The winter packs are my fave!)

Bombas is another company with heart that gives back. For every pair of socks purchased, they donate one pair to the homeless community, as well as working to raise awareness. Many of you know I have volunteered for and supported The HALO Foundation for years and Bombas regularly donates socks to the kids at HALO.

Find Bombas HERE

Dwell Differently Subscription

This is such a special gift! We spend our time dwelling on things (the Lord knows I do!). We choose whether it’s problems, the past, the future, our blessings, His Word. Dwell is a scripture memorization tool. It’s a monthly subscription that starts at only $7.20/month and equips you with tools to memorize the monthly verse. Each month includes 3 temporary tattoos, a keychain and a notecard about the monthly verse. Plus, they have phone screen savers on Instagram each month. I look forward to getting it each month and it has really helped me focus more when my mind is chaos.

Learn more about Dwell HERE

Olive + June Nail Polish

What girl doesn’t love nail polish?! I kept hearing friends talk about Olive + June and finally decided to try it for myself. I love it! The quality is great and they have new colors seasonally. It’s formulated to be “7-free” which means Olive + June is free of the seven harmful chemicals commonly found in nail polishes including dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, TPHP or xylene. Plus, it’s also vegan and cruelty free. It also doesn’t need a base coat, and I’m all for anything that saves time!

Buy Olive + June HERE, plus this link gives you $10 off your first $50 purchase and a free polish!

Jelly Bracelets

As an eighties child, of course I had to put these on the list because any age girl would love them! I ordered these on a whim while we were on a road trip and I wear them all the time! Seriously, jelly bracelets. My 10 year old loves them too.

Find them HERE

Essential Oil Rollers

These are some of my favorite things! I keep them all over – in my purse, my office, the bathroom, my bedside table. So convenient! And any time I can reach for a natural alternative, I prefer that. Don’t tell them, but my hubby is getting a Deep Relief roller in his stocking. And my kiddos are getting their own KidScents collection rollers to keep in their rooms and backpacks. Here are a few of our favorites:

✔️ Deep Relief – I use it when I have a headache or tension, hubby uses on his lower back
✔️ Stress Away – vacation or “mom time out” in a bottle
✔️ Thieves – the OG, we use this to support our immune systems
✔️ SleepyIze – my daughter’s sleepy oil
✔️ KidPower – my son loves this one for situations when he feels a little anxious
✔️ TummyGize – both kids roll this one on their tummies when they need it
(The kids essential oil rollers will be available individually on November 9th, links coming! Until then, HERE’S a link to the entire kids’ roll-on collection.)

You can click each of the names above to find them individually. Or you can go HERE to learn more about bundled starter sets that include many of these!

Twisty Pets

Okay, this one doesn’t really work for grown ups. But they are adorable little stocking stuffers! They’ve been in my daughter’s stocking the last two years. These little jeweled animals unwind into bracelets and necklaces. They can be collected and combined, and easily twist back into pets. My kids also love “blind bags” in their stockings. Anything they are loving at the time…Minecraft, LOL Surprise, Mario Legos, Hatchimals. Even Pokemon cards. They usually fit perfectly and it’s fun to see what surprise is inside.

Find Twisty Petz HERE

Pomchies

Welp, these weren’t originally on my list, so that puts us at over 10 stocking stuffers. But my daughter loves these scrunchies so I had to share! We know scrunchies are huge right now, but these aren’t just regular scrunchies. They have some made from swimwear fabric and they are her favorites! Not only are they great accessories for pool or beach days, but she uses one after her shower and it doesn’t hurt her hair or ruin the fabric with wet hair.

Find them HERE

Gift Cards

I know, not cute. But who doesn’t love a gift card?! And they’re definitely stocking-sized and a sure hit. I usually include iTunes, Target and Nintendo in my kids’ stockings. And for my hubby, it’s Starbucks, a favorite restaurant and DQ.

Winter Scarves + Hats

Last tip! I start the toe of the stocking with an orange (or course, right?). Is that everyone’s tradition? Once the stocking is full, I like something cute pouring out the top. Kind of like a cork, to keep everything inside. For the kids, it’s always been a small stuffed animal. I love a cozy winter scarf or a pompom hat as an option for older kids or grown ups! Just roll and stuff. Cutie-patootie!

Find the striped scarf HERE, the gray knit scarf HERE, and the pom beanie HERE.
(These stockings are several years old, but they’re from Pottery Barn Kids and they have similar options HERE. I love them because they’re big and hold all kinds of fun goodies!)

Happy Gifting!

Phew! This so much fun! I hope it gives you lots of ideas and makes your holiday season a little easier. If you loved this list, I would absolutely love for you to share it! And connect with me on Instagram where I share my favorite things pretty much on the regular. Happy holidays from my family to yours, my friends!

XO, Kelli

Pin it here for later: